SOC 53-6051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Transportation Inspectors — Salem
Salem, OR · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Salem, OR is $81,140 a year, trailing the national median of $92,100 by 11.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Salem, OR is $81,140 a year, trailing the national median of $92,100 by 11.9%. Half of workers earn between $73,740 and $109,980. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $64,130 and the ninetieth at $115,480.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.30 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Portland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $107,840. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 129th of 434 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,130 | −30.4% |
| 25th | $73,740 | −19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $81,140 | −11.9% |
| 75th | $109,980 | +19.4% |
| 90th | $115,480 | +25.4% |
| Mean | $91,380 | −0.8% |
Other metro areas in Oregon
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | $107,840 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Salem run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $81,140 buys what $78,472 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$78,472US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,140 a year, 11.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,130 to $115,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $107,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Transportation Inspectors in Salem, OR?
The median annual wage is $81,140, or $39.01 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $92,100, so pay in Salem, OR is 11.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Salem, OR earns more than $115,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,130 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Portland, at $107,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Salem, OR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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